UK girl's name
Bintu
A feminine given name of Somali origin meaning "daughter".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2019. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Bintu is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Bintu popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2019 in this profile. In that release it ranked #5591, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2004, with 5 births.
This profile covers 20 England and Wales registrations across 6 recorded years from 2004 to 2019. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, so the page is a view of published baby-name registrations rather than a forecast or a live count of people using the name today.
The latest count is about 60% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 20 living people in the UK are called Bintu. This uses published birth registrations from England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, then applies ONS national life tables to estimate how many are likely still alive. It does not forecast extra births for 2020 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Bintu ranked #5591 for girls in England and Wales in 2019, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2004, when 5 girls were registered as Bintu.
- • About 20 living people in the UK are estimated to have Bintu as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#5591
2019
Births in 2019
3
Latest year
Peak year
2004
5 births
Estimated living
20
2026
Meaning
What does Bintu mean?
Bintu is a feminine given name of African origin, primarily used in various regions of sub-Saharan Africa. The name is believed to have its roots in the Bantu languages, a large family of languages spoken across central, eastern, and southern Africa.
The etymology of the name Bintu can be traced back to the Bantu word "ntu," which means "person" or "human being." The prefix "bi-" is a plural marker in many Bantu languages, indicating the name may have originally referred to a group or community of people.
Historical references to the name Bintu are scarce, as written records from many parts of Africa were limited or non-existent during certain periods. However, some accounts suggest the name has been in use for centuries among various ethnic groups in the region.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Bintu can be found in the 16th century, when a woman named Bintu Kambalu was mentioned in Portuguese colonial records from Angola. She was a prominent figure in the local community and played a significant role in trade negotiations with the Portuguese settlers.
Another notable individual with the name Bintu was Bintu Sowe, a 19th-century Gambian midwife and traditional healer. She was renowned for her expertise in traditional medicine and her role in delivering countless babies in her community.
In the 20th century, Bintu Diallo emerged as a prominent figure in the Malian women's rights movement. Born in 1950, she dedicated her life to advocating for gender equality, education, and empowerment of women in her country.
Bintu Kargbo, born in 1962 in Sierra Leone, was a renowned activist and campaigner against the use of child soldiers during the civil war in her country. Her advocacy and humanitarian efforts earned her numerous international accolades.
Another notable figure was Bintu Noor, a Somali writer and poet born in 1972. Her works explored themes of identity, displacement, and the experiences of women in conflict zones, earning her critical acclaim and a devoted following.
These are just a few examples of individuals who have carried the name Bintu throughout history, each making significant contributions to their respective fields and communities.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Bintu over time
The chart below shows babies named Bintu registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2004 to 2019. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Bintu, the clearest high point is 2004. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2019, compared with 5 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Bintu by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Bintu was a short-lived spike or a name that stayed in regular use. Average rank is calculated only from years where a published rank exists.
| Decade | Average rank | Total births | Years covered |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | #5674 | 9 | 3 |
| 2000s | #4352 | 11 | 3 |
Related
Names similar to Bintu
- Bethany 43,226
- Brooke 18,370
- Bella 14,112
- Bonnie 12,149
- Beatrice 11,306
- Bethan 7,968
- Beth 6,440
- Betsy 5,065
- Beatrix 4,317
- Billie 4,220
- Beau 3,231
- Bryony 3,167
FAQ
Bintu: questions and answers
How popular is the name Bintu in the UK right now?
In 2019, Bintu was ranked #5591 for girls in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Bintu most popular?
The peak year on record was 2004, with 5 babies registered as Bintu in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Bintu?
A feminine given name of Somali origin meaning "daughter".
How many people are called Bintu in the UK?
A total of 20 babies have been registered as Bintu across the 6 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here.
Which records is this page based on?
The England and Wales timeline uses ONS baby-name records. Scotland figures come from NRS and Northern Ireland figures come from NISRA. Counts are registrations in published baby-name files. The living estimate uses those birth registrations with ONS national life tables.